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statue of a woman holding a child on a white backgrounda statue of a woman standing on top of a white pedestala stone statue of a man with a hat ona statue in the middle of a park with flowers in the foreground
ALEXANDRE LANDRE - NANCY

106 - Maxime REAL DEL SARTE (1888–1954)
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Estimate €300 - €600
Sale commission
Description
Maxime REAL DEL SARTE (1888–1954) To the Soldier King 1876–1934 Studio plaster cast of the monument to King Albert I. Parts missing. D_56 x 31 x 21 cm This plaster sculpture is a design model for the monument dedicated to King Albert I of Belgium, erected in 1936 on Place Godefroy de Bouillon in Nancy (Meurthe-et-Moselle). The original, monumental work measures approximately 5 metres wide by 6 metres long and weighs nearly five tonnes. It combines an imposing recumbent lion in the round with lictor’s fasces carved from a single block of Belgian granite, alongside several bronze elements. These bronze elements include, in particular, the effigy of King Albert I, depicted wearing a helmet and seen in three-quarter profile, surrounded by a wreath of oak and laurel, as well as a sword bearing the royal crown on its pommel and an olive branch on its blade. The bronze elements of the original work are the creation of the sculptor Maxime Real del Sarte and were cast using the traditional lost-wax technique. The monument pays tribute to Albert I, nicknamed the ‘Soldier King’, a major figure in Belgium during the First World War. The various elements that make up the monument are highly symbolic: the lion evokes strength and courage; the sword recalls the sovereign’s military role; whilst the laurel and oak wreaths symbolise honour, victory and strength. The olive branch, for its part, adds a dimension of peace and reconciliation. The monument’s history began in 1934, following the death of King Albert I. A public fundraising campaign was launched in October of that year, followed by a collection on the streets in July 1935. The project received authorisation in turn from the Nancy City Council, the departmental arts commission and the President of the Republic. Work began in August 1936 and the monument was unveiled on 4 October 1936. It is made entirely of Belgian granite from the Avins quarry in the Ourthe valley.
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About the sale Art Nouveau & Art Deco #5
Auction location
Auction time 10/09/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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